New Tools Measure Babies’ Feet to Save Lives in Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, December 19, 2024 – In an initiative to combat neonatal mortality, Save the Children and Hawassa University College of Medicine & Health Sciences (HUCMHS) have developed low-cost tools to screen newborns for prematurity or low birth weight. These simple, colour-coded tools are designed to identify at-risk babies born at home, providing a lifeline in a country where over 50% of births occur outside healthcare facilities.

The tools include a laminated card and a plastic device equipped with a 90-degree “heel holder” to guide accurate foot measurements. If a baby’s longest toe falls in the red zone, it signals low birth weight, prompting families to seek medical attention. Conversely, a green zone measurement indicates a healthy weight.

Save the Children’s Ethiopia Country Director, Dragana Strinic emphasized the significance of the initiative:

“ We know that a major cause of neonatal mortality is complications associated with preterm birth and low birth weight. This situation can be prevented when mothers know whether their baby is at risk or not. Yet, according to a recent national survey, half of women in Ethiopia are still giving birth at home with limited access to qualified health-care personnel and/or tools to screen their newborns right after birth.”

Research-Backed and User-Inspired Design

The tools were developed through Human-Centered Design (HCD), involving mothers and community health workers in rural Ethiopia. Prototypes were refined based on their feedback to ensure ease of use. The tools demonstrated high accuracy in identifying at-risk newborns in a hospital-based study involving nearly 400 mothers in the Sidama region.

“There is nothing that makes mothers happier than measuring their babies by themselves and knowing the body weight condition,” shared one mother.

Addressing a Leading Cause of Child Mortality

Preterm birth and low birth weight are the leading causes of death in children under five globally. These conditions increase the risk of death within the first month and year of life and contribute to lifelong health challenges. Ethiopia’s neonatal mortality rate of 33 deaths per 1,000 live births remains nearly double the global average, underscoring the urgency of interventions like these tools.

Save the Children’s 60-year presence in Ethiopia has focused on improving health, nutrition, and education and providing essential services to vulnerable communities. This initiative aligns with their mission to accelerate progress toward meeting the UN’s target of reducing neonatal deaths to 12 per 1,000 live births by 2030.

If successful, the tools could be scaled nationally, transforming neonatal care in Ethiopia.